| J.220 |
Dhammaddhaja Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once born as Dhammadhaja, chaplain to Yasapani, king of Benares.
One day the king’s captain, Kalaka, who was wont to take bribes, gave a wrong decision
in a case, and the bodhisatva, being appealed to, reheard the case and decided in
the plaintiff’s favour. The people applauded greatly and the king made him judge.
Kalaka, however, wished for an excuse to put Dhammaddhaja to death and persuaded
the king that he was getting too popular and the king gave him various impossible
tasks. Dhammaddhaja, with the help of Sakka, performed them all. One day the king
ordered him to find a park-keeper with four virtues and with the aid of Sakka, the
Bodhisatva discovered Chattapani, the king’s barber. On being questioned, Chattapani
told the king that he was free from envy, drank no wine, had no strong desires and
never gave way to anger. He then related the stories of his past lives, the experience
of which had made him renounce these evils. The king, at length, discovered Kalaka’s
perfidy and had him put to death. The Jataka was related in relation to Devadatta’s
attempts to kill the Buddha. Devadatta is identified with Kalaka and Sariputta with
Chattapani. |
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Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.186ff. |
perfidy |